Published: November 04, 2009 01:40 am      

ERIE COUNTY: Hardwick trounces Iannello

Kevin Hardwick soundly defeated Michele Iannello in Erie County’s 10th District, helping the Republican party make inroads in the legislature, and while his victory wasn’t much of a surprise, the ease in which he won was.

A political science professor at Canisius College, Hardwick held a 61 percent-to-39 percent lead on Iannello with 91 percent of the districts reporting as of press time Tuesday.

Hardwick said he hopes that the results will help bring an end to bickering in the county legislature.

“The people elected all of us,” Hardwick said. “We have two teams and we need to make it one and behave like adults. The people should stand for nothing less.”

Although results aren’t official, numbers indicate the Republicans will double their influence in the legislature from three to six, taking away the supermajority necessary to override a veto from Republican County Executive Chris Collins.

Iannello said she gave the race her best shot, but the residents decided to make a change.

“Obviously the people in the 10th district want a new face,” Iannello said. “I wish Kevin all the best.”

There was speculation going into the final days of the race that both Hardwick and Iannello would suffer from individual setbacks.

First, Collins made remarks at a Republican fundraiser comparing state Democratic Chairman Shelly Silver, an orthodox Jew, to the Antichrist.

Later, Iannello became the subject of controversy when the Buffalo Teachers Federation withdrew its support after she allegedly asked the Working Families party to remove two black women campaigning for her in the district. The Working Families party withdrew its support as did the United Auto Workers.

However, Hardwick said he believes neither event changed the result.

“There’s no question (the race issue) hurt her image,” Hardwick conceded. “She lost critical support from the unions and Democrats usually rely on union support to get out the vote.”

However, Hardwick said internal polls taken a few weeks ago indicated he had a double-digit lead on Iannello. “It enhanced the result, but I don’t think it was responsible.”

As for Collins’ remarks, Hardwick said the impact on his own race was “negligible.” According to Hardwick, A “robocall” from Collins supporting him was circulating in the district on Monday, showing that there wasn’t much fallout.

Iannello, who threw her support behind the Clean Air Coalition, an environmental group looking to make changes in the northwest corner of the town, said she will still fight for their cause.

“I’ll continue doing my work. I’m still a resident in the district,” Iannello said. “I just didn’t get enough votes.”

In another local Erie County race, Lynn Marinelli, the legislature’s chairwoman, cruised to victory in the 11th District by an even greater margin over her Republican challenger Kevin Curtin, 65 percent to 35 percent. With all districts reporting, Marinelli collected 6,110 votes to Curtin’s 3,229.

Incumbent Tom Loughran, a Democrat representing the 14th District, which comprises parts of Amherst, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga, holds a razor-thin, 227-vote lead on Republican challenger Shelly Schratz, a 2 percent difference. With all results unofficial, that race may be determined by absentee ballots and a recount will likely take place.

Elsewhere in the county, Lynne Dixon in Hamburg and Dino Fudoli in Lancaster appear to have given the Republicans seats that had been occupied by Democrats.

Sheriff Tim Howard appears to have won re-election, holding a lead of 6 percentage points on Democratic challenger John Glascott, a Cheektowaga police captain. Also, Democrat Mark Poloncarz has retained his post as county comptroller, holding off Republican Philip Kadet, 52 percent to 45 percent in a three-way race that saw Michael Abramo garner 3 percent of the vote.

Contact night city editor John Hopkins at 693-1000, ext. 150.